Technology can control equipment located thousands of kilometres away and perform major operations, but the patient cannot be provided the touch of loved ones that they need so much. But this will not last long. Now, with the help of a new device, people can hold the hand of their loved ones thousands of miles away. Scientists say that they have developed a device with soft fingers that gives the authentic feeling of touch.
It works by simulating all four touch receptors in the human finger using vibrations at different speeds and strengths. The team behind the gadget, called the Bio-Inspired Haptic (BAMH) System, believe they can create a glove that can recreate the sensation of hand grasping.
Professor Helge Wurdeman of University College London, who worked on the device, said, “We believe we have the technology that will enable us to design a glove. We are looking at connecting multiple fingers together. We want to understand (whether) we can detect a decline in (touch) sensitivity over some time.”
This technology has given excellent results in achieving the feeling of touch. (Photo courtesy: British Science Association/PA) This technology can have many uses. Dr. Sarah Abad of University College London said, “Unfortunately, there is a limitation with video calls. For social bonding, which is important, you need touch, but video calls do not provide that. This technology provides a way to include touch in our virtual social contacts.
It could also serve as a diagnostic tool for tactile perception for patients experiencing a loss of sensitivity. Experts say a person living in London, for example, would be able to “hold” the hand of a relative dying in Australia.
According to the results published in the journal Nature Communications, the technique could be used for people who have lost their sense of touch due to conditions such as metacarpal tunnel syndrome or diabetes. And it could be used to tell the difference between healthy and cancerous tissue.
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 14, 2024, 07:51 IST
